Commerce native Vanessa Perez, now a Downey resident, poses with her paralyzed brother, Michael Tafoya, 9, as she prepares to lead ‘Michael’s Team’ in Relay for Kids to raise funds for the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House, where the family stayed during Michael’s hospitalization three years ago.
Story Created:
May 13, 2009 at 6:02 PM PST
Story Updated:
May 14, 2009 at 3:45 PM PST
DOWNEY — Friends and acquaintances of Vanessa Perez here and in Commerce will be rooting for her as she leads “Michael’s Team” (Team T Rex) in the Relay for Kids run or walkathon Sunday in Redlands to raise funds for the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House.
Her brother, Michael Tafoya, 9, has been paralyzed and unable to speak since suffering a diabetic stroke about three years ago, but the young man has surprised doctors and will officially start the marathon with Ronald McDonald at 8 a.m. Sunday. The Ronald McDonald House is the official charity of McDonald’s.
Michael lives in Hesperia with his parents, Leonard and Roxy Tafoya, and Perez’s three other brothers.
Doctors once thought Michael “would never be able to do anything,” his sister said. But after three years of physical therapy, he is able to get out of his wheelchair and walk a few steps with the help of his mother.
“We have been named the official family for the marathon,” said Perez, 27, who was raised in Commerce and recently moved to Downey. She works for the city of Commerce Recreation Department.
“Our goal is to raise $1,000 in one week, and we’re halfway there,” Perez said, explaining that the 15 to 20 members of Michael’s Team are seeking funds for the Ronald McDonald House program, which provides residential accommodations near children’s hospitals for parents to stay, free of charge, while visiting their sick children.
“The Ronald McDonald House helped us,” said Perez, recalling that the family used such a facility while Michael was hospitalized in a coma for two months after his stroke.
“The money raised at Relay for Kids will help the many families that stay at the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House night after night. My family was one of those families who stayed there for about two and a half months.
“We could never repay them for their comfort and hospitality during those rough times but we can help them by fundraising and supporting them in the relay for kids.
“Michael’s limited walking is more than doctors expected and the family hopes he will regain some of his muscular ability in time. He is starting to move his hands,” Perez said. “He can’t communicate with us, even to tell us he is in pain, but we know when he is.”
Although he can’t talk, Michael apparently understands what is going on and what is being said around him.
“He attends school and when we watch television and something funny is said, he laughs. In fact, when he sees a show for the second time he seems to remember it and starts to laugh before the funny line is spoken,” Perez said.
“He has a great sense of humor,” she added.
Those interested in being a part of Michael’s team can learn more about it at www.relayforkids.com/*/vanessaperez?faf=1&e=2417582986.
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